Items filtered by date: Monday, 31 May 2021

PRESENT

• Bertha M. Ndebele Malawi (Chairperson)
• Luísa Francisco Pedro Damião Angola
• Hon Deputy Speaker Balamage DRC
• Jerónima Agostinho        Mozambique
• Lucien Rakotomalala Madagascar
• Desmond Lawrence South Africa
• Maria Langa-Phiri Zambia
• Joyce Makonya Zimbabwe
• Ashley Ittoo Mauritius
• Rosie Bistoquet        Seychelles
• Strydom Mpansa                           Eswatini

ABSENT  WITH APOLOGY

• Sebastian Karupu Namibia
• Jamal K Ali Tanzania
• Mokweledi Moswanne Botswana
• Mphosi Nkhase Lesotho

SECRETARY

• Mr Dennis Gondwe, Secretary SADC PF Secretariat

IN ATTENDANCE

• Boemo M. Sekgoma Secretary General
• Ms Jabulile Malaza Eswatini
• Ms Paulina Kanguatjivi          SADC PF Secretariat
• Ms Yapoka Mungandi SADC PF Secretariat
• Mr Raj Khooblall Project Accountant
• Mr Shauneni Kurasha SADC PF Secretariat

The meeting was called to order at 09:30 hours.

AGENDA

• Credentials of Delegates and Apologies.
• Welcome Remarks by the Chairperson.
• Adoption of Agenda.
• Consideration of Minutes from the previous Meeting held virtually on 16^th October 2020.
• Consideration of matters arising from the Minutes of the previous meeting
• Update on the implementation of the SRHR, HIV/AIDS Governance Project
• Briefing on the HSDSP Annual Workplan by the Committee Secretary
• Closing Remarks by the Chairperson

CREDENTIALS OF DELEGATES AND APOLOGIES

Apologies were recorded from the national Parliaments of South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, and Tanzania. 9 out of the 15 Member Parliaments were present. Accordingly, the meeting was deemed to be properly constituted.

ADOPTION OF AGENDA

The draft Agenda was adopted without amendments on a motion by Seychelles and seconded by Zimbabwe.

WELCOME REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON

In her welcome remarks, the Chairperson, Hon. Bertha Ndebele reminded the meeting that one of the guiding principles of the SADC Parliamentary Forum was to promote a culture of human rights and democratisation within SADC which included the enjoyment of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) for all without discrimination. On the strength of this mandate, the SADC PF in collaboration with national parliaments embarked on the implementation of a 3-year Project on SRHR, HIV/AIDS Governance. Hon Ndebele informed the meeting that the activity period for the Project was from 1^st July 2019 to 30^th June 2022, and 10 national parliaments were taking part in the implementation of the Project at domestic level. She emphasized that the HSDSP committee was vested with a statutory mandate to oversee and provide leadership in the implementation of the project, and it was against this background that the meeting had been organised so that the Members were updated on implementation processes and the way forward. In its leadership role, the HSDSP Committee is well poised to spearhead the SRHR Project both at regional and national level and ensure that pertinent SRHR related resolutions are tabled at the Plenary Assembly of the Forum.

CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING HELD VIRTUALLY ON 16^TH OCTOBER 2020.

The Committee considered the minutes of the previous meeting, and on the motion by Eswatini and seconded by Zambia, the minutes of the previous meeting held on 16^th October 2020 were adopted as a correct record of proceedings without amendments.

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING, HELD VIRTUALLY ON 16^TH OCTOBER 2020

There were no Matters Arising from the Minutes of the previous meeting as previous matters were already actioned by the Secretariat in collaboration with Member Parliaments.

UPDATE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SRHR, HIV/AIDS AND GOVERNANCE PROJECT BY THE PROJECT ACCOUNTANT AND THE COMMITTEE SECRETARY

The Committee Secretary Mr D. Gondwe presented a brief overview of the SRHR Project. He explained that the  vision of the Project was  universal access to integrated SRHR and HIV/AIDS services and related rights, including bringing forward social change, improved health and respect for human rights that are enjoyed by all in the SADC region, and consequently, the goal of the Project was  to work towards the achievement of this universal access to integrated SRHR and HIV/AIDS services and related rights through parliamentary action via the legislative, oversight, budgetary and representative roles of MPs.

In terms of implementation, he explained that processes were unique and contextualised to each National Parliament and that activities to be implemented were circulated by a Memorandum issued by the Secretariat at the beginning of the Project. Mitigation measures were also put in place in view of striving to attain the set targets amidst the challenges experienced due to COVID-19. Members of the HSDSP will recall that an adaptive strategy was mapped on the project outcomes of the SRHR Project in view of ensuring that remedial measures are taken to achieve the project objectives. The adaptive strategy was approved by members of the HSDSP at the last meeting on the 16^th October 2020 and was thereafter transmitted to all SADC national Parliaments through SRHR Researchers. Moreover, SRHR Researchers based in national Parliaments met with UNESCO’s representatives for deliberation on UNESCO-SADCF PF Support, which aimed at promoting awareness and acceptance of CSE in the SADC region, as well as securing the ESA Commitment beyond 2020. In February 2021, National Parliaments managed to review their work plans and implemented most of their scheduled project activities by the end of March 2021. Afterwards, National Parliaments are to compile their country level Annual Reports which will be sent for monitoring and evaluation.

The Project Accountant,  Mr Raj Khooblall, explained to the Committee that the SRHR Project was being funded by SIDA to the tune of 3 Million USD for a period of 3 years, and that due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the project encountered some challenges in the 2^nd year of implementation such as difficulties to hold physical meetings both at regional and national level as a result of lockdowns and in-country confinement restrictions. Additionally, most SADC countries had imposed flight restrictions and this was an impediment to the organisation of regional meetings, which as a consequence, resulted to a low utilisation of funding.

It was mentioned that there were some opportunities that arose during the course of the second year of implementation in the sense that the Project had managed to conduct zoom meetings and swiftly shift most of its meetings online. Additionally, the ICT framework under the Project was strengthened by procuring laptops and cell phones for SRHR Researchers, and by providing data allowance to Researchers and key Project staff. This complemented an initiative of the Forum to provide data allowance to recruited seconded staff to service the standing committees of the Forum.

The Project Accountant also explained that for year three the project has a budget of 1.2 million USD and the following activities would be implemented:

• Need to continue holding National Working Group (NWG) meetings at national parliament level;
• To continue holding capacity development for MPs and other stakeholders such as CSOs;
• To facilitate the formulation of the SADC Model Law on Public Financial Management;
• To hold public hearings and sensitisation campaigns where appropriate;
• To continue facilitating E-Communication and the development of e-briefs; and
• To facilitate the recruitment of legal expert at national parliament level to assist on bill analysis and processing.

The Project Accountant further mentioned that the expectation was that 2021 would be a better year for the project because there was high likelihood of conducting physical meetings both at national level and regional level.

The Committee enquired from the Secretariat as to why some countries like Madagascar were not part of the Project and it was explained that in the initial design of the project all countries in the region were included but for reasons beyond the control of the Secretariat, not all countries responded in relation to implementation at national level by the deadline set by the HSDSP of 31^st December 2019. However, it was mentioned that countries which still want to participate in the Project may do so by writing a formal request to the Secretariat, after which the Secretariat will take up the matter with the donor, Sweden.

BRIFING ON THE HSDSP ANNUAL WORKPLAN BY THE COMMITTEE SECRETARY

The Committee Secretary, Mr D. Gondwe explained to the Committee that the mandate of the Human and Social Development & Special Programmes (HSDSP) and its Standing Committee is derived from the Strategic Plan (2019 – 2023), the Forum’s Constitution, Rules of Procedure, Plenary Assembly Resolutions, as well as previous Committee Resolutions, and that the main goal of the programme is to deal with human and social development issues pertaining to health and combating illicit drug trafficking, HIV/AIDS, and education, among others. In addition, professional training, employment and labour, culture and sport, science and technology and humanitarian issues also constitute bedrock themes for the HSDSP Committee.

In this respect, under the objective of enhancing the role of the Forum in the fight against SRHR infringements, HIV/AIDS, and protection of key populations from a parliamentary perspective, the Committee is mandated to hold a dialogue on key issues pertaining to the protection of vulnerable groups, namely, the elderly, women and children, and key populations in the SADC region. In addition, a dialogue meeting will be held on emerging issues pertaining to human trafficking in the light of COVID-19 pandemic.

In accordance with the objective of enhancing cross-learning initiatives for HSDSP and other standing committees, and partners of the Forum, the Committee would conduct a joint session of HSDSP and RWPC on the SADC Model Law on Child Marriages, and hold a training in conjunction with partners on data capturing by reference to the data impact of the SRHR, HIV/AIDS Governance Project.

Additionally, the Committee will hold biannual meetings to discuss the progress in the implementation of the SRHR, HIV/AIDS Governance project and also conduct follow-up meetings to check on the implementation of regional commitments and resolutions e.g. CSE, the domestication of the SADC Model Law on Child Marriages, and Public Financial Management.

The Committee urged the committee secretariat to properly realign the activities with time frames for proper follow up in the implementation processes.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

In her concluding remarks, Hon Rosie Bistoquet, on behalf of the Chairperson thanked the Secretariat for arranging a successful meeting. She also reiterated the Committee’s appreciation to Mr Raj Khooblall, the SRHR Project Accountant for the elaborate explanation to the Committee on the current status of the Project’s finances. She mentioned that the information they had been given on the Project would allow the Committee Members to make evidence-based interventions during deliberations in their national Parliaments and at the Forum.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

There being no further business to transact, the meeting adjourned at 13:00 hours.

Minutes of the Meeting of the SADC Parliamentary Forum Standing Committee on Human And Social Development and Special Programmes (HSDSP), Held Virtually On Friday 16th April 2021

ONLINE HOSTING BY THE SADC-PF BY ZOOM LINK

“ACHIEVING HUMAN AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE SADC REGION DURING COVID-19 RECOVERY”

BACKGROUND

The SADC Parliamentary Forum, through its Human and Social Development and Special Programmes (HSDSP) Committee, has over the past years promoted human and social development by advocating for a progressive implementation of common objectives such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the implementation of Social, Economic and Cultural Human Rights, and the accomplishment of regional agendas such as the AU’s Africa Agenda 2063, to cite a few.

With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, human and social development has faced particular strain, especially in Southern Africa where public health systems were already overstretched with difficulties in fighting HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria and other communicable diseases. According to the World Economic Forum Global Risk Report 2021, growing societal fragmentation is likely in 2021, due to the persistent and emerging risks to human health compounded with rising unemployment, and a broadening of the gap between the “haves” and the “have-nots”. While Governments around the world shall continue to address COVID-19, there is a need to balance other competing priorities such as SRHR, the public debt as well as environmental concerns which were already at a paroxysm well before COVID-19. Heads are now turned to the post-pandemic economy and speculations are diverse concerning how human and social development, including SRHR, will fare in a world that is recovering from the global pandemic. At the same time, human and social development will depend heavily on the global race for COVID-19 vaccines which are so far, sparingly available to developing nations.

In November 2020, the HSDSP Committee of the Forum approved adaptive measures which were mapped on the project outcomes of the SRHR Project (2019-2023) in view of ensuring that SRHR is not left behind whilst confinement restrictions were in place in SADC Member States. Amongst others, the adaptive measures promoted the delivery of Comprehensive Sexuality Education by online schooling, ensured that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) was not overlooked during the pandemic, and above all promoted access to essential medicines despite disruptions in freight and cargo schedules from Europe and Asia.

While remaining true to its Vision as the Flag-Bearer of Democratisation and Socio-Economic Development in the SADC region, the Forum will continue to promote SRHR and more generally the culture of human rights that is quintessential to foster human and social development, notwithstanding the devastating effects of COVID-19. By and large, the international community is in agreement that the pandemic shall not become a convenient excuse for Governments to close eyes on child marriage, torture or infringements of SRHR and other human rights. Accountability, democracy through parliamentary action, and enforcement of the international Bill of Rights remain the hallmarks of human and social development in 2021.

 EVALUATING THE GAINS IN YEAR 2 OF THE SRHR PROJECT

At this juncture, it will thus be opportune for the HSDSP Committee to evaluate the gains in human and social development made under the SRHR Project (2019-2022) in Year 2 which ended in March 2021. While Year 2 of the Project has been particularly challenging due to COVID-19, national Parliaments have nonetheless found the strength to advance SRHR with respect to all the project outcomes and in accordance to the guidance given by the HSDSP Committee. In addition, parliamentary leadership around SRHR has acted as a leverage to ensure that Government is held to account in the House and in parliamentary committees during Year 2 of the Project.

Key achievements and milestones of the SRHR Project will thus be showcased to the HSDSP Committee through snapshots from the draft Narrative Annual Report that will be presented to the donor, Sweden, for Year 2. It should be highlighted that despite the COVID-19 restrictions, the Forum has been able to implement all the main regional initiatives under the Project such as the holding of the Committee of Clerks/Secretaries General of Member Parliaments, the meetings of the HSDSP as well as performing a regional workshop on budget evaluation for SRHR Researchers and partners.

MONITORING OF THE SADC MODEL LAW ON CHILD MARRIAGE

Pursuant to the establishment of the Regional Parliamentary Model Laws Oversight Committee of the Forum (RPMLOC) in 2019, the initial meetings of the RPMLOC have resolved that there is a need to garner empirical data from Member States in view of assisting the Committee to monitor the domestication of the SADC Model Laws in line with its statutory mandate under the Forum’s Constitution. In this respect, there was a need to deconstruct the SADC Model Law on Child Marriage and develop a monitoring tool that could be used to assist the Forum in capturing the requisite information in collaboration with Member Parliaments.

Accordingly, a Scorecard for the SADC Model Law on Child Marriage has been developed to monitor the compliance level of SADC Member States in view of assisting SADC MPs to identify the bottlenecks in domestication, and finding the appropriate means of redress by peer learning and experience sharing. The Scorecard provides a list of straightforward questions obtained by deconstructing the SADC Model Law in relation to which Member Parliaments will report upon in collaboration with the relevant portfolio Ministries.

Pursuant to the approval of the HSDSP Committee, the Scorecard will be submitted to the RPMLOC for consideration and eventual transmission to Member Parliaments via the Secretariat.

AGENDA OF THE COMMITTEE SESSION

• The agenda of the Committee session will be as follows:
• Welcoming Remarks by the Chairperson of the HSDSP, Hon. Bertha Ndebele (Malawi);
• Credentials of Delegates and Apologies;
• Adoption of the draft Agenda;
• Consideration of Minutes of proceedings of the previous meeting of the HSDSP Committee;
• Approval of Minutes of proceedings of the previous meeting of the HSDSP Committee;
• Consideration of key features and achievements of SRHR Project (2019-2022) in Year 2;
• Consideration of the Scorecard for the SADC Model Law on Child Marriage;
• Any other Business;
• Closing remarks and vote of thanks by Chairperson

VENUE AND DATE

• The committee session will take place by online hosting of the SADC-PF over a Zoom link, from 9.30 AM to 11.45 AM CAT.

Session of the Human and Social Development and Special Programmes Committee

Online hosting by the SADC-PF

31^st May 2021

PROGRAMME  

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Concept Note Session of the SADC-PF Human and Social Development And Special Programmes Committee 31st May 2021